nichols



June l2, 1928. 1,672,900

R. P. NICHOLS DIRIGIBLE LIGHT Filed June 11, 1925 /N VEN TOR ROBERT F A T TORNE YS Patented June l2, 192.8.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT P. NICHOLS, OF NEW ROCHELLE, vNEW YORK.

DIRIGIBLE LIGHT.

Application tiledJune `11, 19251 Serial No; 38,348.y

This invention relates to improvements in dirigible searchlightso1-spotlights for auto- 'mobiles`, motor boats or other vehicles and `particularlyfto the type of spotlight illustrated anddescribedin mycopending application, Serial N o. 757,997.

It is an objectof the invention toprovide a dirigible spotlight for automobiles or the like which maybemounted on the deckorcowl :or other desired place outside the passenger compartment and be corrtrolled from within the passenger `compartmentzof either an open or closed .automobile without necessitating holes `or` openings through the windshield or other transparent parts of the automobile body. E y

Another object of the invention is to provide a searchlight or spotlight for antonio `biles or the like controlled from a point removedfrom thelight, which may be turned through-anangleiof 360O or more in Aboth vertical and horizontal planes, making it possible to "direct the light lin any direction,-

vwith a minimumamount of movement.

Another object of the invention is to pro-` "vide a controlling dev-ice for a spotlight of the ,type describedby which both the horizontal and vertical movements of the light are directed by rotary motion of the controlling handles. f

"A furthery object of the invention .is lo provide a rugged weatherproof fixture for a dirigible spotlight` with a minimum number ofV moving parts and with enclosed electricalconnections, at a minimum cost of manufacture.

Other objects "of theL invention will be4 manifested as the description ofthe inven roceeds.

illustrate a preferred formof embodiment 'of theinvention, l f' Figure 1 isa part sectional elevational view'of a' portieri of an automobile with ,the light of my inventionfmounted thereon:

Figure 2 is a slightly venlarged frontvliew `partly in Sectionof the light and bracket shown in Figure le Figure 3 is a frontI view of the spotlightmounted in a'different position on the auto mobile.

'In the form of embodiment illustratedin Figures 1 Yand 2 a spotlight 10,` is pivotally mountedon an elbow 11carried on the cowl "of the automobile by lneans of a short hollow shaft 12 which is rotatablymounted in the elbow 11 and is held against longitudinal mot-ion by a slip ring 13 running in the groovelll .on the shaft 12. The slip ring 13 is secured vin the elbow vll-by means vof screws 15. The elbow 11 is bent through an angle of approximately 90 to bring the free end thereof approximately parallel with its support and its lower end is rotatably mounted in a bracket 1,6 whichis rigidly attached to the automobile. i

In Figures 1 and 2 l have shown this bracket 16 attached to the deck or cowl of the automobile just in front of the windshield and in Figure 3 l have shownt-he bracket attached. to theside of the automo bile, adjacent the Awindshield butit will be evident as the description proceeds that it may be attachedto any part of the autoincbile and at any angle wit-hout impairing the Athe bracket 16 prevents `longitudinal motion of the elbow 11 in the bracket 16 and acts as Aa seal to prevent water from seeping in between the elbow 11 and the bracket 16. A collar 18 of the bracket 16 extends through the deck of the automobile and one end of a flexible casing 19 is threaded onto this collar and a portion 11'* ofthe elbow 11 extends through the bracket 16 and collar 18.

The fiexible casing 19 passes through a hole 20 in the cowl board 2l of the automou bile and the other end of the easing is rigidly attached to a bearing plate 22, which is removably mounted on the instrument board 23 of the automobile by the clamp 24. formed integral with the `4plate 22.

A. knurled hand 'wheel 25 is mounted in a suitable bearing 26 in the bearing plate 22 and itself forms a bearing 27 for a second and smaller knurled hand Wheel 28 mounted therein. The handwheel 25 has a hub 29 to which is attached by any suitable means such as soldering, `a flexible hollow shaft 30 f whose other end is attached to the endll of the elbow 1L The hollow'shaft 30 rotates within the casing 19` when the handwheel 25 is turned and turns the elbow 11 in the bracket 16.

A smaller hollow shaft 31 is attached to the hand wheel28 and extends through the hollow shaft 30 and the` elbow 11 to the hollow shaft 12 on which the .spotlight 10 is mountedQ `The shaft 31 is freely rotatable withinthe .shaft 30 and hence when the hand wheel 28 isturned the spotlight is rotated ioo about the axis of thelsholt hollow shaft l2. n It will thus be seen that with the spotlight mounted as in Figures l and 2 rotation. ofvv whenv the wheel l is turned, thereby impart-lI ing simultaneous land uniforml rotation to the shafts and 3l. A" very slight `amount of A friction will secure this result as the -end of the shaftl which .is vsecured to the shaft 12 turnsl with the elbow l1 when itis rotated and'jtends tocausetheother end of theshaft l 3l-to turn with theV shaft 30 or hand wheel 25. A ratchet 32 vintegral with vthehand wheel'25 is engaged by a spring arm 83 with l `25 'enough pressure to prevent the hand wheel 2-5'ffro1n rotating unless turned byl the hand.

lBoth Wheels tllerefore'turn when the wheel 2,5 is turnedtoadjust the light in a horizontal plane, but the spring 33 holds the wheel 25 'stationarywhile the whee128 is manipulated 'to adjust thevlightin a vertical plane.

ln order to direct the spotlight at an object the large' wheel 25 is turned, the wheel 28 turning therewith, until the light moving yoo Qin a lhorizontalpl-anehasv reached a point in line with theobject, the smaller Wheel 28 is l v`then turned it necessary until thev light is` thrown upon the object. Y f

It will be noted thatthe spotlight may be rotated Vin both planes through more than 3600' and this has aV distinct advantage. If

the-rotationwere .limited to 3600i and the light turnedupon an object'inadirection near one' limit of-rotation it would be neces-4 sary to turn the lalnpcompletely aroundin order lto `attain `a direction near the other limit of rotation. With the present invention the light may be rotated Vcompletely around thereby eliminating such unnecessary turning of thehand wheels and allow- 1 ing easy'andfrapid adjustment of the light in anydirection'..k l

Thewires 34 which yconduct current to the light are passed through the hollow shafts 3l and 12 to the light 10 and are `completely enclosed and protected from the weather and from the danger of being broken vtrom'bend-- ing or twistingas such twisting and. bending 1s spread outove'r thelengthot,l the-wire and does not occur at any one place. Continued AAs illustrated in Figure 3 ythe light maybe lf'lnounted upon the side of the car in theapproximate line of the windshield or upon the 1 signature to this Sno ons of the oinaohioldao'i-ii-,iis P0- sition the elbow 1l rotates in the vertical plane about a horizontal pivot and theshaft n 12 'and light 10 rotates" ina horizontal plane p l atake end of the elbow.

In this case the vertical rotation vof the lamp is accomplished by the lar e handwheel l 25 and the horizontal rotation the small handwheel 28, `the operation `being :identical as describedin the preceding l:

While I have described `and` `ponoibln form of embodiment .of .my mmv tion` itis to he understoodthattlwiiavntiq. i

is not limited to this and thatY variousmodloations and changes may be `mande in the embodiment, illustld without departing from the `sairitof he inviteration or the soupe of the appended o.

l Iv claim.:

i Lo o dirigido ligiit'-for-.aiiliiinbt'esor wppertedin vsaid elbowon an, axisnrmli the` alo like .o elbow, o ligas mommy axisofzsadlight, abiwkt wim .l .SIAE- porting said elbow, a flexible )nu W attached to said elbow, a flexible Y within said rst mentioned flexible` hnftoilldlg through said. elbow and dirgtb" tosaidzlight, and means ftil'flmhfgmr oo boa ,of one flexible mohammed `the i, Y

:.1'. 1 .fl ljlil inf 96 a in o anlgiblol-ightfomuwmbilea direction of `tllefligfht.A

the like oo elbow, o lighrotomblasupmmd i mi lblw trum mf u, o 'Veni .ig t, a etreta a eupporting sold elbow, o hollow exibl cable from :said bracket to ,the nWiOl 10i, @.Mltomobile, a flexible hollowshftiead cable attached to said elbow, afhandwheel tached to said sluit, a Second ballon flexible Shoa within sold trot. ghost and, said elbow los v and attached to said li.gllt, azluladwhpel-,alf`

3.4 In a. 'r' le` i torautom un the like an elbow, a light rotatbl in said` elbow on an axis normal-t0 theage said elbow, a hollow eltlille,` 6% .o from said bracketto the @im Qu/0- wheel attac ed tothe endi sai innen* shaft,

electrical connectors Within; the lxmeritlexlolo shaft, moans to hold un two hanewhools` in frictional en wheels to hold it against rotation when slid other wheel is rotated.

gement with each-othernd l independent -ho ding means for Y'one of lsad rotation of the light' in one direction merely twists or untwists the strands of the wires.`

- yIn. testimony whereof I ,have i R BERT P. NIHLSQ 

